Nice looking guns. I still shoot a 1972 model 870 and a '66 Superposed Lightning. Both 2-3/4 guns. I am one who enjoys breaking down a gun and cleaning it and it seems that, the older the gun gets the better it shoots. The feel of wood and steel can't be beat. As out of date, non-extreme, undergunned and unimpressive as my gear looks, we still manage to eat a few ducks. Take care....mauser

The greatest duck call known to mankind?....A fresh cup of coffee from the Thermos.

This 1928 Model 12 was my grandfather's gun. He gave it to me in 1981 when I was 11. A few years ago I had it reblued because it was practically bare metal from all the wear. It has a nickel barrel and a vari-choke, so I can't shoot steel, but it handles bismuth well. I still take it out at least once a year and really enjoy shooting it.

Those Brownings are friggin gorgeous. A friend of mine has a old Belgian Sweet 16. I recently bought a new Maxus but have been shooting an 1100 for over 30 years. My experience in shopping for a new gun has shown that even the new guns with wood stocks and forend's seem fairly "chincy" to me.

Slugo wrote:I'll take fixed choked guns any day of the week! It's unusual for me to change chokes in my new clay breakers, after I've installed them form inception. Favorite combo, IC/M...

I'm with ya on that. I have only one gun with choke tubes and I haven't removed the modified tube since I bought the gun. I see more potential headaches down the road and little benefit from tubes unless you plan on owning only one gun for all types of hunting. But how many of us does that?

The Franchi 48AL is the ONLY new autoloader I would spend money on. None of the latest and greatest autoloaders do anything for me. If all my guns were stolen or destroyed in fire and insurance paid me in full and all of the sudden I had $50,000.00-$60,000.00 to start my gun collection over when all the money was gone I still would have never owned a SBE or any other latest and greatest.

My two 3200's , 1 with 32" barrels is a Comp Trap and it has .027 on top / .017 bottom , the other has 30" barrels with .021 on top and .011 on the bottom . I can't imagine needing anything else to shoot birds with , plus I kill about 1500 pigeons with them a year . With my MX12 34" , I killed 2719 pigeons at one Dairy and came in 1 st in class at 7 Sporting Clays events But , this is a Choke tube gun that I only use .025 under .032 in .

I use plastic guns from time to time but the ones I have the most fun with wear wood and are over 50 years old- Model 12 Heavy Duck and a couple of Parkers varying in age from 120 years old to low 90s. Somehow the birds fall better, deader, whatever. I know it is just nonsense but the karma is better.

I've tried to like modern guns with synthetis stocks and camo but to me I feel more like a meat killer and less than a sportsman.I love the nostalgic feeling and looks of an old classic gun, especially a side x side. Sure I sacrifice an effort shot but I can honestly say I've never missed not having it.